A 5-Minute Tour of Beamer’s SimplestFeatures

Norm MatloffDept. of Computer Science

University of California, Davis

July 17, 2005

Outline

A Question from Grade School

(Illustrating BEAMER’s \pause command.)

A couple of years ago, a fifth-grade teacher asked me toexplain to her the reasoning behind the “invert and multiply”rule for dividing fractions, e.g.

45÷ 2

3=

45× 3

2Let’s try to find answers understandable by fifth graders (atleast the more patient ones).

A Question from Grade School

(Illustrating BEAMER’s \pause command.)

A couple of years ago, a fifth-grade teacher asked me toexplain to her the reasoning behind the “invert and multiply”rule for dividing fractions, e.g.

45÷ 2

3=

45× 3

2

Let’s try to find answers understandable by fifth graders (atleast the more patient ones).

A Question from Grade School

(Illustrating BEAMER’s \pause command.)

A couple of years ago, a fifth-grade teacher asked me toexplain to her the reasoning behind the “invert and multiply”rule for dividing fractions, e.g.

45÷ 2

3=

45× 3

2Let’s try to find answers understandable by fifth graders (atleast the more patient ones).

Cookie Approach

Here let’s just use intuition, understandable by fifth graders.

If we give 1/3 of a cookie to each person, how many people canwe feed with 1 cookie?Obviously, the answer is 3.So we’ve derived the “invert and multiply” rule in a special case:

1÷ 13

= 3

Cookie Approach

Here let’s just use intuition, understandable by fifth graders.If we give 1/3 of a cookie to each person, how many people canwe feed with 1 cookie?

Obviously, the answer is 3.So we’ve derived the “invert and multiply” rule in a special case:

1÷ 13

= 3

Cookie Approach

Here let’s just use intuition, understandable by fifth graders.If we give 1/3 of a cookie to each person, how many people canwe feed with 1 cookie?Obviously, the answer is 3.So we’ve derived the “invert and multiply” rule in a special case:

1÷ 13

= 3

Cookie Approach

But what if we give 2/3 of a cookie, not 1/3, to each person?We’re giving 2× as much per person.So we can feed only 1/2 as many people.So we feed 1

2 × 3 = 32 .1

So we’ve derived the “invert and multiply” rule in another case:

1÷ 23

=32

1One person gets only a half share.

Cookie Approach

Now, suppose we have only 4/5 of a cookie.Then we can feed only 4/5 as many people, i.e.

45× 3

2people

So we’ve derived the “invert and multiply” rule in the generalcase:

45÷ 2

3=

45× 3

2

Cookie Approach

Now, suppose we have only 4/5 of a cookie.Then we can feed only 4/5 as many people, i.e.

45× 3

2people

So we’ve derived the “invert and multiply” rule in the generalcase:

45÷ 2

3=

45× 3

2

Outline

A Geometry Proof

(Illustrating BEAMER’s \uncover command.)

TheoremThe angles in a triangle sum to 180◦.

Plan: Extend AC past C to D. Draw CE parallel to AB.

A Geometry Proof

(Illustrating BEAMER’s \uncover command.)

TheoremThe angles in a triangle sum to 180◦.Plan: Extend AC past C to D. Draw CE parallel to AB.

Proof.1. u = y

Alternate angles of a transveral.2. v = x Consecutive interior angles of a transveral3. z+u+v = 180◦ ACD is a straight line.4. z+y+x = 180◦ Substitution from Steps 1 and 2.

Proof.1. u = y Alternate angles of a transveral.

2. v = x Consecutive interior angles of a transveral3. z+u+v = 180◦ ACD is a straight line.4. z+y+x = 180◦ Substitution from Steps 1 and 2.

Proof.1. u = y Alternate angles of a transveral.2. v = x

Consecutive interior angles of a transveral3. z+u+v = 180◦ ACD is a straight line.4. z+y+x = 180◦ Substitution from Steps 1 and 2.

Proof.1. u = y Alternate angles of a transveral.2. v = x Consecutive interior angles of a transveral

3. z+u+v = 180◦ ACD is a straight line.4. z+y+x = 180◦ Substitution from Steps 1 and 2.

Proof.1. u = y Alternate angles of a transveral.2. v = x Consecutive interior angles of a transveral3. z+u+v = 180◦

ACD is a straight line.4. z+y+x = 180◦ Substitution from Steps 1 and 2.

Proof.1. u = y Alternate angles of a transveral.2. v = x Consecutive interior angles of a transveral3. z+u+v = 180◦ ACD is a straight line.

4. z+y+x = 180◦ Substitution from Steps 1 and 2.

Proof.1. u = y Alternate angles of a transveral.2. v = x Consecutive interior angles of a transveral3. z+u+v = 180◦ ACD is a straight line.4. z+y+x = 180◦

Substitution from Steps 1 and 2.

Proof.1. u = y Alternate angles of a transveral.2. v = x Consecutive interior angles of a transveral3. z+u+v = 180◦ ACD is a straight line.4. z+y+x = 180◦ Substitution from Steps 1 and 2.

Outline

More Advanced Features of BEAMER

I This tour just scratches the surface.

I BEAMER has enough features to fill a 210-page usermanual!

I Advanced example: http://latex-beamer.sourceforge.net/beamerexample1.pdf.

More Advanced Features of BEAMER

I This tour just scratches the surface.I BEAMER has enough features to fill a 210-page user

manual!

I Advanced example: http://latex-beamer.sourceforge.net/beamerexample1.pdf.

More Advanced Features of BEAMER

I This tour just scratches the surface.I BEAMER has enough features to fill a 210-page user

manual!I Advanced example: http://latex-beamer.sourceforge.net/beamerexample1.pdf.